Fall Down Go Boom
Road Master
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 811
Likes: 0
From: Staten Island, NY
Thanks for the post. I am in the same situation as you (25 years off, 6 months back on), and I appreciate the reminder. When we are on the road, it is so easy to be influenced by outside factors that can distort our understanding of our limits and capabilities. I can get hurt by going too fast, but only someone else's opinion of me gets hurt by going too slow.
Road Captain
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 609
Likes: 0
From: North Jersey
Glad to hear you're OK, seeing that accident on the way back would have really shaken me up. When I'm out with some of my buddies w/HD's and sportbikes running really hard I do keep up but it's not comfortable for me sometimes. I always tell them I'm not going to kill myself trying to keep their pace. I bought a cruiser to do just that, cruise. When I get uncomfortable I'll just wave them on and sit back and watch the mayhem from a distance. Trust your instincts and don't let anyone push you.
Cruiser
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 147
Likes: 0
From: Southwest Missouri
Lotta wisdom in the messages above. Never push your skill level. Your skill will improve over time; but it is also true that you have to be aware of the passage of time. At 50, my reflexes are not quite as quick as they use to be, vision neither. Also, glide I ride now does not behaive the same as the sporter I use to ride; meaning all bike have different capabilites. I run into a rider from time to time that thinks it is some kind of competition and wants to push it all the way to the edge. I believe in a different kind of competition. The one between me and the road. I want to continue to win that competiton for another 20 or 30 years.
Road Master
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 1,164
Likes: 401
From: Port Coquitlam B.C.
I hate riding with a group of bikes I don't know riding behind me. Usually I pull off at the first chance and let them go by. I took the safe riding course and I use what I learnt. That means I will ride against the centerline most times but will on occasion move over to the right side of the lane. Too many times when there are riders I don't know following me, one of those idiots is right beside me when I want to change lane position. Either that or they feel they can pass without using the passing lane. They just pass using the part of your lane that you are not using, stupid! Every rider knows that we have to respect what can happen to us if we meet up with a car, you would think we wouldn't have to worry about the postion other riders put us in.
P.S. glad you are ok.
P.S. glad you are ok.
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Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 2,051
Likes: 0
From: Inverness FL
My wife just returned to riding after 8 yrs and I ride behind her and get frustrated at times but I do not want her to ride above her skill, Get well soon and conquer those turns at ur speed not someone elses.LOL
Cruiser
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 155
Likes: 0
Glad to hear your Ok Ghost. I am in the process of making my transition to crusiers. My FXDC will be delivered in dec. I rode sport bikes for about 5 years, and must admit that I often allowed the people I was riding with to influnce the way I rode. I would tell my self this is stupid why am I riding like this. Slow the F^#k down your gonna get hurt. I have come pretty close to some pretty bad accidents including coming within inches of dumping my bike off a cliff into the ocean on what was suppost to be a leisurly sunday ride around Oahu Hawaii (damn bikini's). Lots of lessons learned the hard way and Long story short Man just enjoy the ride. Hope you have a great ride home.....
Fred
Fred